Saints fans looking to next year

Published: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 5:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 5:40 p.m.

Saints fans who have been around more than a few years know painfully well how important it is to look forward to “next year.”

Next year was always the promised land, the time when the offense and defense would both work well and the Black and Gold could reach the playoffs and, perhaps, even a Super Bowl.

Since the arrival of head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees, the promise of next year has been more than an empty mantra meant to console the fans of the lovable losers.

The promise of next year has had meaning. Each year, as the Saints have finished in the playoffs, out of the hunt or even as Super Bowl champions, fans could look to the next year with eager anticipation, awaiting the successes to follow.

While there has not yet been a return trip to the Super Bowl, the Saints’ offense has continued to give fans hope.

The defense has struggled at times, but the team as a whole is a good one and should only get better in the coming years.

Payton has been reinstated to the team after serving a one-year suspension for his role in the Bountygate scandal in which players were said to have been paid for injuring opponents.

Both Payton and the team seem to have put this year’s disappointments behind them, so the fans can do the same.

It is only natural, as football fans watch the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens gearing up for Super Bowl XLVII, for Saints fans to wonder what might have been had it not been for the scandal.

Perhaps the Saints would be getting ready to be the first team to host a Super Bowl. But there is no telling. It is doubtful that the porous defense would have been considerably better, but the Saints might have pulled out another couple of wins. They might have even made the playoffs. The Super Bowl? Not likely.

The media attention on New Orleans and the Superdome can be real positives moving forward. After almost a full year of national media attention on the bounty scandal, it is a great change of pace to see the media talking about the incredible things about New Orleans that make it the perfect Super Bowl host city.

And the Saints players, coaches and fans should take it all in. This was not their year, but next year will be here before we know it, giving the team yet another chance to prove it belongs in the big game.

So bring on the Super Bowl, football fans, but just wait until next year. The Black and Gold will be in the mix once again.

<p>Saints fans who have been around more than a few years know painfully well how important it is to look forward to “next year.”</p><p>Next year was always the promised land, the time when the offense and defense would both work well and the Black and Gold could reach the playoffs and, perhaps, even a Super Bowl.</p><p>Since the arrival of head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees, the promise of next year has been more than an empty mantra meant to console the fans of the lovable losers.</p><p>The promise of next year has had meaning. Each year, as the Saints have finished in the playoffs, out of the hunt or even as Super Bowl champions, fans could look to the next year with eager anticipation, awaiting the successes to follow.</p><p>While there has not yet been a return trip to the Super Bowl, the Saints' offense has continued to give fans hope.</p><p>The defense has struggled at times, but the team as a whole is a good one and should only get better in the coming years.</p><p>Payton has been reinstated to the team after serving a one-year suspension for his role in the Bountygate scandal in which players were said to have been paid for injuring opponents.</p><p>Both Payton and the team seem to have put this year's disappointments behind them, so the fans can do the same.</p><p>It is only natural, as football fans watch the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens gearing up for Super Bowl XLVII, for Saints fans to wonder what might have been had it not been for the scandal.</p><p>Perhaps the Saints would be getting ready to be the first team to host a Super Bowl. But there is no telling. It is doubtful that the porous defense would have been considerably better, but the Saints might have pulled out another couple of wins. They might have even made the playoffs. The Super Bowl? Not likely.</p><p>The media attention on New Orleans and the Superdome can be real positives moving forward. After almost a full year of national media attention on the bounty scandal, it is a great change of pace to see the media talking about the incredible things about New Orleans that make it the perfect Super Bowl host city.</p><p>And the Saints players, coaches and fans should take it all in. This was not their year, but next year will be here before we know it, giving the team yet another chance to prove it belongs in the big game.</p><p>So bring on the Super Bowl, football fans, but just wait until next year. The Black and Gold will be in the mix once again.</p><p>Editorials represent the opinions of</p><p>the newspaper, not of any individual.</p>